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Bringing together local business, education and community leaders to identify the top regional workforce needs and discuss strategies for engaging adult learners in ways that will help strengthen pipelines for the local job market.

Jackson Chamber of Commerce President Kyle Spurgeon leads a discussion about Tennessee Reconnect, a scholarship program that allows adults to attend community or technical college tuition-free. Business, community and education leaders from around the region shared ideas on ways to best meet workforce development needs.(Photo: Submitted)

The statewide Drive to 55 Alliance held the first of 13 Tennessee Reconnect Roundtables Thursday at Jackson State Community College, bringing together local business, education and community leaders to identify the top regional workforce needs and discuss strategies for engaging adult learners in ways that will help strengthen pipelines for the local job market.

“We have already seen an incredible response to Tennessee Reconnect — with over 30,000 applicants in the first year, and we want to do all we can to ensure these students are completing degrees and credentials that are fully aligned with the local job market and job opportunities,” said Mike Krause, Executive Director of Tennessee Higher Education Commission, in a released statement from the Jackson Chamber.

“One of the most concerning issues for Tennessee businesses is finding available and skilled workers. These meetings are bringing together key business and education leaders to start collaborating on how to close workforce gaps and lead more Tennessee adults to great job opportunities,” Bradley Jackson, President of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry, added in the released statement.

The Drive to 55 Alliance is a statewide alliance of private sector and community partners working in support of the state’s Drive to 55 initiative to equip 55 percent of Tennesseans with a college degree or certificate by 2025. In order to reach our state workforce goal, the Alliance is promoting Tennessee Reconnect, which provides adults the opportunity to complete a postsecondary degree or credential at a community or technical college, tuition free.

The Tennessee Reconnect Roundtables, which will be held across the state in the coming weeks, will bring together local partners to discuss ways to recruit more adults into Tennessee Reconnect, and ensure students are completing curriculum, degrees, and certifications that are aligned with actual workforce needs in the regional job market.